Switzerland, Germany,
& Imperial Europe
19 Day Package
Day 1: Depart USA
Overnight flight to Europe.
Day 2: Calvin’s Geneva
We arrive in Switzerland, the city known to Protestants as the "Town
of Calvin" - Geneva. We begin sightseeing at St. Peter's Cathedral,
where John Calvin taught the doctrine that made him famous
throughout the Protestant faith. Other Reformation sites of interest include Calvin's Academy, the Reformation Monument and the Reformation Museum. We'll also take a walk by the Flower Clock and
Gardens. The remainder of the day you are free to explore at your
leisure. We overnight in Geneva. (D)
Day 3: Geneva, Chillon Castle, Berne, Interlaken
This morning, we follow beautiful Lake Geneva eastward to the much
photographed Chillon Castle, the 12th-century water fortress near
Montreaux. Our next stop is in Berne, Switzerland's capital. Here you
will find a wonderfully preserved Medieval town and one of the earliest cantons to embrace the Protestant Reformation due mainly to the
influence of Zwingli. Sightseeing with a local expert starts at the popular Bear Pit and then focuses on the monumental Federal Palace and
the beautifully preserved medieval Old Town. Witness the hourly parade of painted figures at the Clock Tower and take your pictures of
ornate, flower-adorned fountains. We continue our tour to the charming mountainside community of Interlaken for dinner and overnight.
(B)
Day 4: Grindelwald, Lucerne, Zurich
This morning we have a visit to the village of Grindelwald, also known
as the “Glacier Village.” Weather permitting, you may choose an optional travel up and up via cog railway to the spectacular peak of the
Jungfraujoch. The view from 11.000 feet will take your breath away.
Please note: The cost of the Mountain Excursion is not included in the
price because this tour is based on weather conditions. The cost for
the cog railway is $185 per person currently. If the weather does not
allow this tour we depart for Lucerne and enjoy a tour of this charming
city to see the impressive city walls, the famous covered wooden
bridge and Thorwaldsen’s masterful Lion Monument. Our lodging this
evening will be in the Zurich area. (B, D)
Day 5: Zurich, Strasbourg
This morning we tour Zurich, the most prominent Swiss city. This is
Ulrich Zwingli’s city. It was here in the Old City that Felix Manz was
martyred in the Limmat River. We’ll visit the Grossmunster Church
and its statue of Ulrich Zwingli, one of the most important Reformers.
Following free time for lunch, coffee and chocolates, we will travel on
to Constance, made famous by reformer John Hus, and then into the
picturesque Black Forest region of Germany. Dinner and lodging this
evening will be in Strasbourg, France. (B, D)
Day 6: Strasbourg, Rhine Cruise, Mannheim
Enjoy a tour of Strasbourg, referred to as the “City of Hope” and
“Refuge of the Righteous” by the Anabaptists. This is where John
Calvin wrote his famous books on systematic theology and where
Martin Bucer, another Reformation leader, helped bring in the Reformation. We will have a stroll around the city center to view the Cathedral of Strasbourg, St. Thomas's Church, and charming “La Petite
France” quarter. From here, we travel northward to the Rhine River
and relax on a delightful and picturesque cruise from St. Goarshausen, past magnificent castles and the famous Loreley Rock to
charming Rudesheim. Our lodging next two evenings will be in
nearby Mannhein, Germany. (B)
Day 7:Arrive Frankfurt,Worms, Mannheim
Arrive in Frankfurt this morning and begin sightseeing in nearby
Worms. It was here, during the Imperial Diet in 1521, that Martin
Luther challenged the entire Roman Catholic establishment by his refusal to recant the great doctrines of Protestantism. It was also here
that William Tyndale completed the printing of his English version of
the New Testament in 1525 which he had begun in Cologne. After
seeing St. Peter's Church and the symbolic Luther Memorial near the
town square, we will stop in nearby Mainz for commentary and a picture of the Gutenberg Monument dedicated the German printing of
the Bible. Our lodging this evening will be in Manheim. (B, D)
Day 8: Eisenach
Following breakfast, we drive to Eisenach: “Almost all of my relatives
live in Eisenach, and I’m known to them there and well-respected; no
other city knows me better”, as Luther said. We explore his city on a
walking tour highlighting St. George’s Church where St. Elisabeth
was married and J.S. Bach baptized; Luther House where Luther
lived as a student with the Cotta family from 1498-1501, and the
Luther exhibition documenting his life and theologies and the Bach
Museum, the birth house of the famous composer Johann Sebastian
Bach. Although he was born 200 years later than Luther he is the
composer who influenced the protestant music the most. The next
stop takes us to the magnificent Wartburg Castle to tour the Palas
(Great Hall), Art exhibition, the Elisabeth Hallway, and the Luther
Room where “Junker Jorg (The Knight George) translated the New
Testament into German. Overnight Eisenach. (B,D)
Day 9: Buchenwald
This morning we visit Erfurt, the spiritual home of Martin Luther. It was
here that Luther obtained a degree in 1502 and a doctorate in the faculty of philosophy in 1505 and where he took the decisive step to turn
to theology and the monastic life when he was caught in a violent
thunderstorm nearby and took a vow to become a monk. Our walking
tour begins in the historical section of the city including St. Mary’s
Cathedral, where Luther was ordained as a priest, the Augustinian
Monastery with a permanent exhibit depicting Luther’s life as a monk
in Erfurt, and to the Church of St. Severus, where Luther preached
his sermons. The city tour also includes the Fish Market, Town Hall
and Merchant’s Bridge. We visit the concentration camp Buchenwald
and its permanent exhibition and the ground. Our lodging this evening
will be in Erfurt. Check-in to the hotel for overnight and dinner. (B,D)
Day 10: Eisleben, Halle, Naumburg, Erfurt
Our journey continues in the footsteps of the Martin Luther in nearby
Eisleben; here we visit Luther’s birth house where he was born in
1483, and where he died in 1546, St. Peter’s Church where Luther
was baptized and St. Andrews Church where Luther preached his
last four sermons and where his body was laid in state. Next stop is
Halle: its most famous son Georg Friedrich Händel was born here in
1685 and only left the city when he was 17. His birth house nowadays
houses a museum. You stroll through the historical Old City which is
one of largest in Germany and view and visit the Market Square with
the Händel Monument, the Market Church with the death mask of
Martin Luther and the Dome where Händel used to work as organist
for one year before he left to London. Then we visit Naumburg: the
late Romanesque and Early Gothic Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul
is one of Europe’s finest cathedrals. The twelve figures of founders,
masterpieces by some anonymous Naumburg masters, are worldfamed. The best known pair is Uta and Ekkehard. Overnight in Erfurt.
(B,D)
Day 11: Leipzig,Torgau,Wittenberg
After breakfast we enjoy a scenic drive to visit the majestic city of
Leipzig. We visit the Thomaskirche (St. Thomas Church) where
Luther preached and Johann Sebastian Bach performed and directed
the famous St. Thomas Boys choir. The next stop is Torgau: the city
was the Saxonian residential city and political center of the Reformation in the 16th century. Martin Luther sanctified the Castle Church as
the first Protestant church. The tombstone of Katharina von Bora,
Martin Luther’s wife, can be found in St. Mary’s church. The only existing memorial for her is located in her last residence. Our lodging
this evening will be in Wittenberg. Check-in to the hotel for overnight
and dinner. The October tour will overnight in Leipzig instead of Wittenberg. (B,D)
Day 12:Wittenberg
For the October tour only we will transfer from Leipzig to Wittenberg
so that we can take part in the activities of the Reformation Day. We
also attend a Castle Church worship which will be shown on screens
outside of the church as well. For all other tours enjoy a full day in Wittenberg. This is where Martin Luther lived and taught for 36 years.
You will see the Castle Church door area where Luther posted his 95
Theses, giving birth to the Reformation. This beautiful church is also
the burial site of Luther. We see the university where Luther taught
and the Luther House which is the greatest museum of Reformation
History in the world with a detailed history display of his life and accomplishments, historical documents and an outstanding collection of
period paintings of his life and family members. The July tour will
overnight in Wittenberg while the October tour will transfer to Berlin
for overnight stay. (B,D)
Day 13: Berlin
We travel northeast to Berlin where we can enjoy a inspirational
guided tour of this fascinating city including the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate and many other sights. The
highlight today will be a visit to the fabulous Pergamon Museum. One
of the most popular attractions in Berlin, the Pergamon Museum is
world famous for its archaeological holdings. The monumental highlights are truly breathtaking to behold, including the Ishtar Gate of
Babylon from 6th century BC and the 2nd century BC Pergamon
Altar. Also notable in this collection is the façade of the throne hall of
King Nebuchadnezzar with artifacts from the earliest history of the
written word, and an excellent collection of Islamic Art. There will be
free time this afternoon for shopping and sightseeing on your own.
Check-in to the hotel for overnight and dinner. (B,D)
Day 14: Berlin - Dresden – Prague
This morning we depart Southwest for the border of Germany and the
Czech Republic. Before arriving at the border we stop for free time in
Dresden. One of Germany’s most beautiful cities, Dresden was virtually destroyed during the night of 13/14 February 1945, when Allied
Forces mounted a vast carpet-bombing raid on the city. We have free
time in the city center where meticulous restoration work is in
progress to return the city centre to its former glory. We have lunch
and free time before traveling south to Prague. After hotel check-in
and dinner, enjoy an independent evening walking tour of this beautiful city which is even more impressive by night; all of the buildings are
illuminated and appear to be out of a movie set. Walk across the St.
Charles Bridge for a view of the city from a unique angle. It is not surprising to learn that Prague was the major filming site for the movie,
"Amadeus". (B)
Day 15: Prague
This morning we take a nice introductory tour of Prague including the
Old Town. This afternoon is at leisure for independent sightseeing and
shopping before Dinner on your own. Following our dinner we enjoy
an afternoon River Cruise displaying the famous sights along
Prague’s river front. (B)
PRICE
PER PERSON:
BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
Date
2017
Day 16: Prague, Bratislava, Budapest
We depart Prague this morning and travel south stopping for free time
in beautiful Bratislava on the way. We then arrive in at capital of Hungary; Budapest also named ‘Paris of the East’, where the remainder
of the day will be yours at leisure to explore the city or just relax in
your hotel. (B)
Day 17: Budapest – Vienna
Situated on the opposite banks of the Danube River, the former cities
of Buda and Pest are linked by a series of graceful bridges. Our
morning sightseeing tour includes visit to Castle Hill area with outside
views of the Royal Palace, then the Fisherman’s Bastion, a Medieval
Castle whose walls were guarded by the guild of fishermen with a remarkable view of the Danube and colorful city. In the afternoon we
make our way west entering Austria to the Musical Capital of Vienna.
Upon our arrival in Vienna we are transported into the heart of the
Hofburg Dynasty. (B)
July 25
Single Supplement:
October 20
Single Supplement:
Land Only
$6,207
$895
$6,297
$895
Special Rates for
Pastors, Christian
Educators, & Custom
Groups of All Sizes!
Day 18:Vienna
This morning following breakfast we visit one of Europe’s most
renowned cathedrals, St Stephens. We then have a panoramic city
tour viewing Vienna’s most famous historic sights including the
Ringstrabe, with its magnificent buildings, the State Opera House,
Parliament, etc. We then visit Hofburg Palace, residence of the Hapsburgs and home of the famous Spanish Riding School. The highlight
of touring today will be a visit to Schöenbrunn Palace and the royal
apartments. We then have a final farewell dinner in a local Vienna
restaurant. (B,D)
Day 19: Departure
We transfer to the airport for our return flight. (B)
INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE
Very nice 3 1/2 & 4 star hotels, breakfast daily & 11 dinners, professional tour guide, modern transportation, sightseeing as listed.
NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE
Airfare, fuel charges, air taxes, travel/cancellation insurance, lunches,
6 dinners, minimum gratuities to driver and guide ($11 per person per
touring day will be added to final invoice).
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